Additive for fuels



United States Patent 3,211,539 ADDITIVE FOR FUELS Walt Phillips, 25Manor Drive, Newark 6, NJ. No Drawing. Filed Mar. 29, 1962, Ser. No.183,676 2 Claims. (Cl. 4477) This invention relates to an additive forliquid and gaseous hydrocarbon fuels to improve the combustion thereof.More specifically, this invention relates to the use of the alcoholheptadecanol in small or trace quantities to substantially increase theenergy released upon the combustion of hydrocarbon fuels.

Heptadecanol is a generic name for the several isomeric forms of thealiphatic alcohol having the empirical formula C H OH. It is usuallyproduced commercially in the branched form 3,9-diethyl-6-hydroxyltridecane, which has the structure,

but other isomers are known and are suitable for use in this invention.

Heptadecanol has been used in the past chiefly for the synthesis of morecomplex organic materials, as a plasticizer, a perfume fixative, and asa base for the manufacture of wetting agents and detergents.

This invention is predicated on the empirical discovery anddetermination that very small or trace quantities of heptadecanol willeffect a highly surprising improvement in the combustion properties ofvarious carbon and hydrocarbon fuels, including liquid fuels such asgasoline, kerosene, and fuel oil, gaseous hydrocarbon fuels, and coaland coke. Depending on the conditions under which the combustion takesplace, this improvement may appear as an improvement in the measuredrelease of B.t.u.s per unit time, or it may change the character of theflame or the rate of combustion so that more recoverable heat isreleased. In any event, the improvements I have discovered can beobtained are truly remarkable. For example, when heptadecanol is addedto conventional Bunker C fuel oils in proportions as small as 1 part per60,000 to 70,000 parts fuel oil, there is observed an in crease in theheat released (in terms of B.t.u.s) upon combustion of the fuel oil thustreated, of as much as 30% in some instances.

Heptadecanol is a liquid at ordinary temperatures. It is soluble in awide range of hydrocarbon liquids and can be incorporated in variousgrades of liquid hydrocarbon fuels simply by mixing it with the fuel toform a dispersion or solution. In the case of fuel oil the heptadecanolcan be added in the proportions of about &- 100 cc. per gallons of oil,but about 1 or 2 cc. presently appears to give best results at the leastcost, and larger amounts do not now appear to give commensurately betterresults. It is contemplated that the quantity of additive used will varywith the specific fuel to which it is added, and also with theconditions under which the fuel burns, and therefore I do not wish to belimited to any specific range of addition. The fuel may be burned in theconventional manner, although it is usually necessary to increase theair/fuel ratio to provide best results.

3,211,539 Patented Oct. 12, 1965 As a specific example of theimprovement in combustion obtained by means of this invention, in onetest, in which heptadecanol was added to fuel oil in the proportion ofabout 1 cc. to 15 gallons of oil, the flame tem- 5 perature uponcombustion was increased from about 6000 to about 7000 F. In anothertest, heptadecanol was added to gasoline at about the same rate and wasused in an automobile engine. The engine speed was observed to beincreased from about 325 r.p.m. to 450 r.p.m. However, its use inautomobile engines is not altogether satisfactory at present since theheptadecanol tends to form a sludge which is detrimental to bestoperation.

I do not know how to explain the highly surprising results obtainingfrom the addition of heptadecanol to fuels in accordance with thisdiscovery. The improvement is apparently not due to the combustion ofthe heptadecanol itself, because in such small quantities that heatreleased from its combustion alone is much less than the actualimprovement in heat release which is observed. It is believed that ithas some sort of catalytic eflect on the oxidation process, but itsmechanics are not yet understood.

I have also discovered that the combustion of gaseous hydrocarbon fuels,including both natural gas and synthetic fuels, is substantiallyimproved if such fuels are contacted in the gaseous phase withheptadecanol immediately prior to combustion. For example, if a smallamount of heptadecanol is brought into contact with gas in the intakeline of a gas burner, the combustion of the gas will release a greaterquantity of heat and will burn with a different characteristic flamethan it otherwise would. Since heptadecanol is a liquid having a lowvapor pressure, it goes into the .gas stream at a very slow rate, andapparently Works its improvement as a catalyst in some manner not fullyunderstood.

I have also found that the combustion of solid fuels such as coal andcoke is improved by adding a small amount of heptadecanol to them, forexample by sprinkling or spraying it onto the fuel. Tests indicate thatcombustion is more complete and that less unburned residue remains, andthat smoking is reduced.

What is claimed is:

1. As a composition of matter, a mixture containing as its essentialcomponents fuel oil mixed with hepta- 4 decanol in the proportion ofabout 0.5 cc. heptadecanol per 15 gallons fuel oil.

2. As a composition of matter, a mixture consisting essentially ofheptadecanol and a fuel of the class consisting of kerosene and fueloil, in the proportions of about /2-100 cc. heptadecanol per 15 gallonsfuel.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Chemicals Co.,13th edition, 1952, page 11.

DANIEL E. WYMAN, Primary Examiner.

1. AS A COMPOSITION OF MATTER, A MIXTURE CONTAINING AS ITS ESSENTIALCOMPONENTS FUEL OIL MIXED WITH HEPTADECANOL IN THE PROPORTION OF ABOUT0.5 CC. HEPTADECANOL PER 15 GALLONS FUEL OIL.